Collaborate Or Die Warns New Tourism Group

The Shannon Tourism Cooperative (STC) claims that the region must engage in a more collaborative approach to marketing the sector if it is to develop during a period of economic uncertainty spurred on by rising fuel prices and an increasingly weakened US dollar.

The newly established group says that not enough is being done to attract and retain visitors to the area as they pass through Shannon Airport.

According to Councillor Sean McLoughlin, Mayor of Shannon, "Of the estimated 3 million transit passengers using the airport annually comparatively few are fully aware of what the Shannon area and County Clare have to offer the short stay visitor."

He added, "Many who book with Ryanair and other carriers immediately head for the big centres such as Limerick, Killarney and Galway. The only way of reversing this trend is by pooling local resources and marketing efforts of tourism interests in the area."

Mayor McLoughlin continued, "The Cooperative’s aim is to make sure visitors planning to use the airport are aware of the area’s attractions and, secondly, to start building the area as a destination. By establishing a cooperative, we can share experiences and marketing budgets, along with bringing the collective strength of all the area businesses to bear in developing this potentially lucrative market."

He said that Aer Lingus’s recent announcement that it is to curtail its services between Shannon Airport and the USA in the first three months of 2009 had made it even more fundamental that the British and Continental mini-break market be targeted.

Meanwhile, all local business are being invited to attend the inaugural meeting of the Shannon Tourism Cooperative where an outline plan for Autumn 2008 will be presented.

The meeting, which takes place at 8.30pm on Wednesday 18 June in the Oakwood Arms Hotel Shannon, will feature the launch of a dedicated group website.

"The website portal will point visitors to individual websites or, where they do not exist, offer space for all companies to promote themselves on-line. The aim will be to present an upmarket image across the board for all tourism related businesses in the county", Mayor McLoughlin concluded.

For more on the Shannon Tourism Cooperative call 086-2473712 or email info@shannontourismcoop.org.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors:
- Mayor McLoughlin (086-2473712) is available for interview/further comment
- For further information please call Mark Dunphy of Dunphy Public Relations on 086-8534900 or media@dunphypr.com

Mark Dunphy
Dunphy Public Relations
www.dunphypr.com
00353-868534900 (mobile)
00353-656839692 (fax)